OP
OP
Oddball
New Member
- Location
- Manchester, UK
FatFellaFromFelixstowe said:
Just done this. No obvious wobble that I can see. Looks good.
Cheers
My first commute....
- Thread starter Oddball
- Start date
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Just done this. No obvious wobble that I can see. Looks good.
Cheers
hackbike 6
New Member
- Location
- The Mile End Road.
I remember my first commutes to my first job in 1981 Barkingside to Hainult.Im sure bike technology is much better now.
Arch
Married to Night Train
- Location
- Salford, UK
Oddball said:Bad news. On the way to work this morning, I was riding along, 20mph, when in front of me was a HUGE pothole. I had nowhere to go. Cars to the right, curb to my left. BANG!. 100yrds down the road, I felt the back wheel steping out so I stopped. Yep, rear puncture!. By this time I had about 2 miles to work. I am well p1ssed off!
So I start the long walk in. At work, I've looked through my bag and realised I've left the repair kit at home. So its a trip to Halfrauds at lunch time for another repair kit.
Like you have said, after time I will learn where all the lumps and bumps are, I just didn't see this one coming.
It might be worth it. I seem to remember hearing that if something is reported to them, and they don't fix it and it later causes an accident, they are in the shoot. If you or someone else had hit that with a front wheel, it might have been nasty and had you off - tell them about it...
Try reporting it here:
http://www.fillthathole.org.uk/
(although I did that with a terrible stretch here in York and nothing happened for ages. I think they might be about to resurface it now, but I'm not holding my breath. On the other hand, I think other people have had good results).
biking_fox
Legendary Member
- Location
- Manchester
Yep, local council do have an obligation to fill in reported holes of sufficient size (anecdotally if a duplex brick will fit beneath the road surface!)
Re-repairs: always carry a spare inner tube / pump / tyre leavers with you, roadside repair in <5 mins, and then you can patch the original at home at your leisure.
Re-repairs: always carry a spare inner tube / pump / tyre leavers with you, roadside repair in <5 mins, and then you can patch the original at home at your leisure.
Safrican
New Member
- Location
- Leicester, England
I agree with all about the state of our roads. I have been doing it in the UK for 7 years and for about as long in South Africa. The roads there are just as bad as here.
As said by all above it will get easier to avoid the danger spots and you will also get a feel for the way traffic flows at the times you cycle. Keep going and ignore the nutters in cars.
As said by all above it will get easier to avoid the danger spots and you will also get a feel for the way traffic flows at the times you cycle. Keep going and ignore the nutters in cars.
sticky sherbert
Well-Known Member
- Location
- here
I've been going three weeks now and seem to have all the humps, bumps and potholes mapped out, the on thing you can't map out is roadkill!!!
Downward
Guru
- Location
- West Midlands
Realistically how long does it take to get your fitness when starting out ?
I noticed 8.5 miles took 40 mins and I am taking 45 mins to do 7.5 miles.
I noticed 8.5 miles took 40 mins and I am taking 45 mins to do 7.5 miles.
Downward, you're asking how long is a bit of string! If your route involves lots of hills then 40 mins might be good or bad depending on the up/down ratio. If it's dead flat then some might consider that a bit slow. Of course you may be a 40 fags a day 30 stone fan of KFC in which case it's very impressive regardless. A tad more info might be in order.
If your route involves lots of hills then 40 mins might be good or bad depending on the up/down ratio. If it's dead flat then some might consider that a bit slow. Of course you may be a 40 fags a day 30 stone fan of KFC in which case it's very impressive regardless. A tad more info might be in order.
stoatsngroats
Legendary Member
- Location
- South East
@ Downwar d...Shimano is right - my commute is 9 miles, and the best time for me is 27 minutes,, generally about 33-35.
It's all flat though, and it's at 4am!
The thing about it is, I DO find it's getting easier....certainly the return ride is slower, but really nice too!
I've only managed 4 days out of 5, and this only once...(last week!!!!)
Just enjoy it, and only keep an eye on the time, don't make it the most important point!
It's all flat though, and it's at 4am!
The thing about it is, I DO find it's getting easier....certainly the return ride is slower, but really nice too!
I've only managed 4 days out of 5, and this only once...(last week!!!!
)Just enjoy it, and only keep an eye on the time, don't make it the most important point!
Downward
Guru
- Location
- West Midlands
Cheers - Commute is
Downhill 1/4 Mile Uphill 1/4 mile Flat 2 miles Up Big hill 1.5 miles Flat 3m Uphill 1/2 mile and Vice Versa
Coming back it's 20 minutes to do the 1st 3 miles then 4.5 in 22 mins so suppose it's the hill that's slowing me.
Anyway off out now on the bike as the sun has come out.
Downhill 1/4 Mile Uphill 1/4 mile Flat 2 miles Up Big hill 1.5 miles Flat 3m Uphill 1/2 mile and Vice Versa
Coming back it's 20 minutes to do the 1st 3 miles then 4.5 in 22 mins so suppose it's the hill that's slowing me.
Anyway off out now on the bike as the sun has come out.
Downward said:
Hills are a bit like marmite - you either love them or hate them!
They do put a spanner in the works for the time poor. I am getting a lot better at hills though. It used to take me approx 32 mins to get home uphill when I first started. Now I can get home in around 18-20 mins depending on how energetic I feel. The other way coming into work my average is consistently around 13 1/2 - 14 minutes. I love going down hills! My commute is only 8 miles round trip.
